Grave-vault



(No Model.)

P. 0. RHEUBOTTOM. GRAVE VAULT.

1 No. 588,086. Patented Aug. 10,1897.

WITNESSES INVENTOR fl m V74 W W llttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK COMAN RHEUBOTTOM, OF UNION CITY, MICHIGAN.

G RAVE-VAU LT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,086, dated August 10, 1897.

Application filed December 14, 1894. Renewed January 12, 18 7- ri l N0. 619, 14- No model To all 1071,0727, it llLi/J/ (JON/CUTE."

Be it known that I, FRANK COMAN RHEU- BOTTOM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Union City, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave-Vaults; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a perspective View of the invention complete. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of invention incomplete and with one of the slabs B taken away to show cement filling in full.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in grave-vaults, and more particularly in that form of vault described and claimed in my Patent No. 476,171, dated May 31, 1802; and the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claim.

The object of the invention is to provide a vault of the above character having all its joints water-tight.

The present vault is constructed of blocks or slabs of concrete, cement, or other suitable or imperishable material, as in my said patent, which are set up in the grave around the casket or casket-box. The inner slabs A do not make close joints with each other, but are spread some distance from each other, the spaces being closed by outer blocks B, which overlap the blocks A. This construction is followed for the two sides and ends of the vault, there being usually three of the slabs or blocks at the ends, one central inner slab A and two outer slabs B, overlapping said inner slab.

The bottom of the vault is formed of a series of slabs O, which fit each other closely, their meeting edges 'being hollowed out, as indicated at a, so that when two slabs meet a trough is formed.

The top of the vault may be constructed in the same manner as in my said patent, or, as shown, it may be similar to the bottom.

The spaces between the slabs and the easket or casket-box at thesides and ends are filled with cement, as are also the troughs a, 1

so that every joint is tightly sealed and a complete cement box is formed around the casket or casket-box.

For cementing the vault I may use a mixture of Portland cement and sand, which can be used dry when so desired, the moisture from the earth being sufficient to soon harden it, or a mortar may be made at the time of using.

This vault may be used without the outer casket-box, or a casket-box having sides and ends only'may be placed around the casket, and after the cement has become set the box may be removed.

The slabs, as will be understood, can be readily adjusted upon each other to adapt them to graves of different sizes.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described grave vault consisting of a series of transverse bottom slabs, the upper portions of the meeting edges of which are cut awayand the troughs formed thereby filled with cement; side walls consisting of inner vertical slabs spaced from each other, and outer slabscovering the spaces and overlapping the inner slabs, and cement fillings in said spaces; end walls consisting each of one inner slab and two outer slabs which overlap the inner slab and cement fillings between the edges of the inner slab and the slabs of the side wall; and a top also of slabs supported on the side walls, the said bottom slabs being of such length that their end portions project laterally beyond the side walls, all of said slabs being of imperishable material, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK COMAN RHEUBOTTOM.

Witnesses: .7

J. W. McOAUsEY, J QHN NESBITT. 

